I spoke with Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex and wished His Holiness a full and speedy recovery following his surgery. We are grateful that even during this difficult time for him personally, His Holiness remembers Ukraine and prays for our people. I briefed him in detail on the situation with Russian escalation and Russia’s constant strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities. We also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in temporarily occupied Oleshky. We are working to help our people there. We are preparing decisions. His Holiness informed me about contacts with the Russian side on this matter. Of course, we also discussed all the current security challenges and threats, including the periodic lack of warnings from our partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks – something that has happened three times recently. I thank His Holiness for his support and all his efforts to achieve a dignified peace.

I took part in the Helsinki Security Forum together with the Presidents of Finland and Moldova – Alexander Stubb and Maia Sandu. Thank you for the invitation. It is important that Ukraine is represented at this forum, because the Russian threat is not just about Ukraine, but about the security of all of Europe. And we are ready to share our experience and how to defend ourselves. I spoke about the priority areas for strengthening security. In the face of any threats, we strengthen both the EU and NATO. Today, our data centers, mobile communications, logistics, and railways are being attacked. This is hybrid warfare. The sea is being blocked. All of these are challenges. And although I would not wish this experience on anyone, Ukraine has it because of the war. Above all, this is why we need ongoing dialogue at different levels – to become stronger together.

As Russia escalates its terror and attacks against life, we have a new and well-timed step by Switzerland. I thank the Federal Council for today’s decision to support eight more projects in Ukraine’s energy, public transport and water sectors, to be implemented by Swiss companies, with total funding of over $160 million. This assistance will strengthen Ukraine’s resilience ahead of winter and reinforce the sectors Russia seeks to destroy first and foremost. I am grateful to Switzerland for its support for our country and people.

Today, a government delegation from Slovenia is in Kyiv, together with representatives of their leading companies. I met with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs @TKajzer and Minister of Defense Valentin Hajdinjak. Our countries are working on the Drone Deal, and we discussed the first results and joint defense projects that we can implement. We talked at length about Ukraine’s future as part of a united Europe, security in our region, and Russia’s constant attacks. I thanked Slovenia for its $50 million contribution to PURL and for all its support. We are deeply grateful for this respect shown to all our people and to our warriors who gave their lives defending Ukraine and all of Europe. Today, together, we honored their memory with a moment of silence…

Everyone understands that the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine is a strong organization with its own history and brotherhood. Your strength is the knowledge Ukraine gains about the enemy, about its plans, and about the overall situation around Ukraine. Your history is the defense of Ukraine and the role intelligence officers have played in the key battles of this war. And your brotherhood – all of us in Ukraine must always value the fact that Ukrainians have become true brothers-in-arms in this war. Today, I honored our warriors with state awards on the occasion of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Day. Everyone has, in one way or another, used information gathered by military intelligence. In one way or another, our warriors from different branches of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces have fought and continue to fight alongside one another – shoulder to shoulder. And that is how it must remain. Brotherhood within each branch of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces is part of what unites our entire society. Ukrainians win when they support one another. Thank you for this approach. May the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine always remain strong.

The territorial issue remains a relevant one. I think such complex issues can only be resolved at the level of leaders. But the main thing is that today we have the opportunity to discuss everything – security guarantees, Ukraine’s future, and the prosperity plan. We are talking not only about security guarantees, but also about economic guarantees for Ukraine – to recover and rebuild. We all understand the challenges that lie ahead once the war ends, and we are discussing them among ourselves. Our army must be strong, and for us this is a key security guarantee. The guarantees must be strong and clear. We must not fear any future challenges. It is also important that European colleagues joined us for the third part of our negotiations. We agreed that Ukraine, Europe, and the United States will meet in the near future.